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15 May Life with Moxie: Skin and humidity

It’s been said that women don’t perspire, we glow. In the last several weeks we’ve started glowing a lot more as the temperature and humidity continue to rise. Most people assume high humidity is a problem for our skin, that it makes our skin shiny, however one of the most significant issues with the appearance of premature aging is the lack of moisture.

Our skin shouldn’t have a matte finish, we should have a dewy natural glow. A dewy complexion is what is naturally occurring as children and that is one reason their skin appears so beautiful and glowing. Food choices, what we elect to eat regularly, drives the health and appearance of our skin. Thankfully, the summer humidity will give us that boost.

Humidity offers much sought-after relief to those who struggle with dry skin or eczema. The regular increase in humidity helps the body retain moisture, helping reduce the irritation and redness that accompanies dry irritated skin. For those who weren’t overly dry to start with, humidity is good for you too as the increase in perspiration helps eliminate toxins and keeps pores flushed and clean.

For those among us who are extra oily or breakout regularly, humidity may cause more of an issue. Humidity causes skin cells to turn over more quickly, that is a really good thing- unless you are producing excess oil. In that case the increased turnover just adds more debris to get caught up in the oil and clog pores. If you can get the oil in check (read: get the diet in check as it almost always comes back to the food and diary is by far the worst culprit), the humidity will be less of an issue. Another way to help combat humidity breakouts is with a really good cleanser like Moxie Creed’s daily cleanser. Moxie Creed has plant-based ingredients like glycolic acid, Himalayan salt and loads of vitamin C to restore the balance while not stripping skin dry.

With summer coming, fresh fruits will begin to take center-stage and our skin will benefit immensely. The beautiful range of varieties of lemons, limes, oranges and grapefruits that we will enjoy in both whole fruit and juice form provide loads of vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that gives you that much sought-after glow as well as plumping up collagen, while helping fade brown spots and erase sun damage. Citrus also contains limonene that has been linked with lower skin cancer rates. Strawberries, another favorite of summer are high in vitamin C as well as tannins that offer sunburn pain relief when applied directly to the burn, just mash and refrigerate for a pain relieving five-minute sunburn mask.Other foods that support healthy skin include walnuts, whose extraordinary levels of antioxidants, plant-based omega-3 fatty acids and alpha-linolenic acid, strengthens the cells to help lock in moisture. Brazil nuts, dark leafy greens, blueberries and kiwis, also offer significant levels antioxidants and are easily enjoyed as snacks or in meals.

Olive oil is another skin nourishing power house loaded with vitamin E, polyphenols, and phytosterols. Antioxidants, even when topically applied, help protect the skin from premature skin aging. Vitamin E partly accounts for the anti-aging benefits of olive oil because it helps restore skin smoothness and protects against ultraviolet light. Hydroxytyrosol, a rather rare compound found in olive oil, also prevents free radical damage to the skin. We recommend PJ Kabos Olive oil as it is a single source varietal from ancient grounds near the Acropolis in Greece, using only traditional hand harvesting. No chemicals in the production, no preservatives, only delicious healing olive oil.

Cooked tomatoes contain lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that fight off the oxidizing effect of UV rays by eliminating skin-aging free radicals. A study in the British Journal of Dermatologyfound participants who ate five tablespoons of tomato paste daily showed 33 percent more protection against sunburn than a control group. Watermelon also contains lycopene and is remarkably low in sugar. For those with oily skin, watermelon is your new fruit of choice- it’s packed with Vitamin A, reducing skin pore size and the amount of oil that your sebaceous glands secrete, thus reducing excess oil and breakouts.

Red grapes contain phytonutrients that slow down the formation of destructive reactive oxygen species (ROS) that form in skin cells, which has been linked to sun damage, skin cancer and cell death. Grapes also contain proanthocyanidins and other polyphenols found in the grape’s seeds that inhibit skin cancer induced by UV rays. Keep organic red grapes in the freezer at all times. They are the perfect frozen treat any time you need one.

Think all these food options sound great but need a more consistent option? Many supplements and powdered forms are available to make supporting your skin easy. The easiest shelf-stable must have from above is tomato sauce. Tomatoes are really high on the pesticide exposure scale so always seek organic. Classico is the organic Life with Moxie favorite for the price.

Keep wholefood strawberry powder on hand to add to smoothies and for mask making for those inevitable sunburns. Start a daily skin health regimen by adding one pomegranate extract tablet daily as this has been found to increase the potency of topical sunscreens by up to 25%. Get UV damage support with grape seed extract supplements as well. At the least, supplementing your vitamin C intake will offer you whole body benefits on many levels.

Our last line of defense is from the outside in and it’s still based on skin nourishing nutrients and hydration. Moxie Creeds daily serum offers an anti-oxidant combination of vitamin C, vitamin E, Ferulic and CoQ10 specifically formulated to neutralize free-radical damage and defend against oxidative stress that causes loss of elasticity, premature aging and hyperpigmentation. Follow with Moxie Creed moisturizer to reverse sun damage and eliminate age spots with extraordinary fruit, nut and floral extracts and butters combined to effectively fight damaging free-radicals while nourishing, hydrating and healing your skin from prior damage.

Summer is making its way in, the weather is changing, the humidity and temperature are rising, and our skin will have to transition with it. Why not embrace all the wonderful that summer has to offer and indulge in best of the season. Enjoy chilled watermelon slices, fresh squeezed orange juice, frozen grapes, fresh light salads with nuts and a splash of olive oil and lemon juice, fruit smoothies, even a refreshing fresh squeezed greyhound cocktail would provide benefits. Then grab yourself a great summer read like The House at the Edge of Night, wash your face and snuggle up for a great read while the rains roll in. Cheers to that beautiful healthy face of yours!

Have ideas you’d like to add? Need more suggestions? Or want to share your experience? Let me know!